jewish voice for peacehttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/taxonomy/term/7819/all
enJewish Voice for Peace calls for an end to attacks on Gazahttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/17386
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<p>Jewish Voice for Peace has called for an immediate end to Israeli air strikes and naval bombardment into Gaza and an end to the ongoing siege there.</p>
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<p>As Israel continues operation “Pillar of Defense” in Gaza, the US-based NGO Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) has called for an immediate cessation of the air strikes and naval bombardment into Gaza and an end to the ongoing siege there. </p>
<p>In a statement issued on 14 November 2012, the human rights organisation declared: "Jewish Voice for Peace urges Israel not to exploit its asymmetric power to exacerbate the instability in the region. We urge President Obama to take a stand against these attacks and to use the power of the United States to insist that Israel pursue all diplomatic measures possible for the sake of life, safety and security on all sides." </p>
<p>"JVP also urges the end of rocket attacks from Gaza into civilian communities in Israel, which we believe is never justifiable, and which only serve to derail efforts for a just resolution to the conflict," it said. </p>
<p>This IDF operation in Gaza has been named in reference to a biblical passage (Exodus 13.21) in which a God-given pillar of cloud protects the Israelites as they wander in the desert after leaving bondage in Egypt.</p>
<p>Jewish Voice for Peace said in response: "It is unseemly to invoke the protection afforded the Israelites wandering in the desert when Israel is the dominant military power in the region. JVP rejects the possibility that such a military operation and escalation of violence will be of any protection for Israelis or Palestinians. As Israel continues to control Gaza by air, land and sea, Israel holds responsibility for the well-being and safety of Palestinian civilians in Gaza who will be traumatised, injured and killed through this escalation of violence.</p>
<p>"JVP calls on our chapters, members, and supporters to join us in redoubling our efforts to advocate for an end to the US’s unconditional military aid to Israel and to intensify our calls for divestment from all companies that profit from this escalation of violence and Israel’s ongoing siege of Gaza."</p>
<p>Jewish Voice for Peace is a national US-based organisation dedicated to promoting a foreign policy in the Middle East based on peace, democracy, human rights and respect for international law. </p>
<p>With offices in New York and California, over 100,000 supporters and 30 chapters, a Rabbinic Cabinet, and a youth wing, JVP’s board of advisors includes Tony Kushner, actor Ed Asner, writer Naomi Klein, Noam Chomsky and other respected rabbis, artists, scholars and activists. </p>
<p>* JVP: <a href="http://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/" title="http://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/">http://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/</a></p>
<p>* You can follow live updates from Gaza here: <a href="https://twitter.com/theIMEU/watching-gaza" title="https://twitter.com/theIMEU/watching-gaza">https://twitter.com/theIMEU/watching-gaza</a></p>
<p>* Background: Professor Paul Rogers, 'The Gaza Conflict in Context': <a href="http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/8362" title="http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/8362">http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/8362</a></p>
<p>[Ekk/3]</p>
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EqualityLiving EconomyPeace and NonviolencePeople and PowerNews Brieffree gazagazahamasisraelisrael-palestineIsraeli-Palestinian conflictjewish voice for peaceoccupationpalestineWorld NewsThu, 15 Nov 2012 05:41:19 +0000staff writers17386 at http://www.ekklesia.co.ukFrom Gaza to Jerusalem: Jewish Voice for Peacehttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/14409
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<p>"In mourning the nine lives lost in Gaza and the one life lost in Jerusalem this week," says Jewish Voice for Peace, "we reject the pattern of condemning the deaths of Israelis while ignoring the deaths of Palestinians. We do not discriminate. One life lost is one life too many - whether Palestinian or Israeli." JVP also situate the events within the context of 44 years of the Israeli occupation of Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.</p>
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<p>Any act of violence, especially one against civilians, marks a profound failure of human imagination and causes a deep and abiding trauma for all involved. In mourning the nine lives lost in Gaza and the one life lost in Jerusalem this week, we reject the pattern of condemning the deaths of Israelis while ignoring the deaths of Palestinians. We do not discriminate. One life lost is one life too many - whether Palestinian or Israeli.</p>
<p>Within the context of 44 years of the Israeli occupation of Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, in the past two years (31 January 2009 to 31 January 2011, starting just after Operation Cast Lead), over a thousand Palestinians have been made homeless by home demolitions, hundreds have been unlawfully detained, and over 150 men, women and children have been killed by the IDF and settlers, according to the Israeli human rights group B’tselem. (1) </p>
<p>Many acres of Palestinian land have been taken and orchards uprooted by armed settlers. Countless hours have been lost at checkpoints, often fruitlessly, while Palestinians attempted to get medical care, jobs, and access to education. One and a half million Gazans have been living with a limited food supply, lack of electricity and dangerously toxic sewage.</p>
<p>This is occupation: daily, persistent acts of structural violence. All in the service of a government that constantly expands illegal Israeli settlements on land that rightfully belongs to Palestinians.</p>
<p>These acts do not reach our headlines because they are so habitual, so we learn not to see them. But Palestinians live them and their profound consequences everyday, and we must keep that in mind, even as we ponder the terrible events of the past few weeks. (2)</p>
<p>* A person or persons, (we do not know who), bombed a bus stop in Jerusalem, injuring 30 and killing one Israeli civilian;<br />
* An Israeli bombing killed three children and an older man in Gaza;<br />
* A person or persons, (we do not know who), murdered five members of a family, including three children, in Itamar, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank;<br />
* The Israeli government suddenly tightened the siege of Gaza and escalated military attacks, killing a total of 11 Palestinians and injuring more than 40 since mid-March; (3)<br />
* Palestinians fired over 50 shells and rockets from Gaza into civilian areas in southern Israel.</p>
<p>These terrible acts of violence remind us that to end the Israeli occupation our best hope is supporting the inspiring nonviolent Palestinian movement for change, in the form of unarmed protests every Friday in places like Bil’in, Ni'lin, Sheikh Jarrah, and the Global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. This is a movement that respects life, that is part and parcel of the nonviolent democratic people's movements we have been inspired by throughout the Arab world, that welcomes the solidarity and support of Israeli and international believers in equality and universal human rights. </p>
<p>This is a movement that fundamentally subverts the logic of armies, revenge-fueled 'price tags', and armed struggle. And it is a movement that may well do what no other government to date has done - pressure Israel to be accountable to international law and therefore help create conditions for truly meaningful negotiations. </p>
<p>Because it is so powerful, it is no surprise that the right to engage in nonviolent resistance, a foundational component of any functioning democracy, is under attack in Israel. Human rights activists are being detained or imprisoned. Bills to criminalise the BDS movement, or harass human rights organisations, are working their way through the Knesset.</p>
<p>Just this week:</p>
<p>* The very act of publicly commemorating the Nakba, a crucial nonviolent act of Palestinian remembrance, was essentially criminalised in Israel by the Knesset. (4)<br />
* The Knesset also passed a law allowing small communities in the Galilee and Negev to discriminate against anyone wanting to reside there who does not fit in with the community’s “socio-cultural” character. (5)<br />
* The Knesset also held hearings to assess whether the “pro-Israel, pro-peace” group J Street was sufficiently pro-Israel. (6)<br />
* The IDF announced a new military intelligence-gathering unit solely dedicated to monitoring international left-wing peace and human rights groups that the army sees as a threat to Israel. The department will work closely with government ministries. (7)<br />
* Dozens of Israeli soldiers raided the home of Bassem Tamimi, head of the nonviolent Nabi Saleh Popular Committee , and beat his wife and daughter while arresting him presumably on charges of "incitement" and "organising illegal demonstrations." (8)</p>
<p>As the Israeli government increasingly deploys anti-democratic measures and military repression, we at Jewish Voice for Peace are redoubling our efforts to support the best hope - a nonviolent Palestinian-led resistance movement in which we all work together to nurture life, justice and equality. We invite you to join the movement.</p>
<p><em>References:</em></p>
<p>(1) B'tselem: Fatalities after operation "Cast Lead"<br />
(2) The Guardian, 23 March 2011: Israeli-Palestinian tensions: a timeline<br />
(3) Alternative Information Center, 23 March 2011: Israel's Military Escalation in Gaza<br />
(4) Jerusalem Post, 23 March 2011: Nakba Bill passes Knesset in third reading<br />
(5) +972 Magazine, 22 March 2011: Knesset passes segregation bill<br />
(6) New York Times, 24 March 2011: U.S. Group Stirs Debate On Being "Pro-Israel"<br />
(7) Ha'aretz, 21 March 2011: Military Intelligence monitoring foreign left-wing organizations and +972 Magazine, 22 March 2011: Military Intelligence monitors "de-legitimisation"<br />
(8) Popular Struggle, 24 March 2011: Israeli Soldiers arrest Bassem Tamimi, Coordinator of Nabi Saleh Popular Committee</p>
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<p>(c) <strong>Jewish Voice for Peace</strong>. Cecilie Surasky is Deputy Director of JVP. She is the editor of Muzzlewatch (<a href="http://www.muzzlewatch.com/" title="http://www.muzzlewatch.com/">http://www.muzzlewatch.com/</a>), JVP's acclaimed blog documenting efforts to silence open debate about Israel-Palestine policy, and leads JVP's online outreach efforts. </p>
<p><em>About Jewish Voice for Peace:</em> Through grassroots organising, education, advocacy, and media, Jewish Voice for Peace works to achieve a lasting peace that recognises the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians for security and self-determination.</p>
<p>Jewish Voice for Peace (<a href="http://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/" title="http://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/">http://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/</a>) is the only national Jewish organisation that provides a voice for Jews and allies who believe that peace in the Middle East will be achieved through justice and full equality for both Palestinians and Israelis. With offices in New York and California, 100,000 online activists, chapters across the country and an Advisory Board comprised of numerous prominent Jewish thinkers and artists, JVP supports nonviolent efforts here and in Israel-Palestine to end Israel’s Occupation, expand human and civil rights, and implement a US policy based on international law and democracy.</p>
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Peace and NonviolenceNews Brieffree gazagazaIsrael PalestineIsraeli-Palestinian conflictjerusalemjewish voice for peaceFeaturesFri, 25 Mar 2011 22:28:21 +0000Cecilie Surasky14409 at http://www.ekklesia.co.ukJewish Voice for Peace backs US protests over Israeli attackhttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/12282
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<p>Jewish Voice for Peace has condemned Israel's attack and killing of members of the Freedom Flotilla aiming to bring much-needed aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.</p>
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<p>Jewish Voice for Peace, a US-based organsiation of Jewish people working for a just peace in Israel and Palestine, has condemned Israel's attack and killing of members of the Freedom Flotilla aiming to bring much-needed aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.</p>
<p>Before the flotilla was attacked, Yigal Palmor, an Israeli foreign ministry spokesman, said: "If we let them throw egg at us, we appear stupid with egg on our face. If we try to prevent them by force, we appear as brutes," JVP reminded supporters today.</p>
<p>The NGO commented: "Israel has more than egg on its face. Israel has blood on its hands. At least 10 passengers have been killed by Israel and about 30 wounded in international waters. This is just another deadly escalation of Israel's harsh repression of nonviolent protests against the occupation, paid with American tax-dollars."</p>
<p>The White House has stated that it "deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries sustained, and is currently working to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy."</p>
<p>A Jewish Voice for Peace spokesperson declared: "This is not enough. President Barack Obama should call for an immediate lifting of the siege of Gaza. He should support an international and impartial investigation into the tragic killing of civilians in a humanitarian mission. And he should suspend military aid to Israel until he can assure the American public that our aid is not used to commit similar abuses."</p>
<p>Activists from both faith-based and secular organisations working for justice and peace in Palestine-Israel, say emergency protests are being organised on Monday 31 May 2010 across the United States, which has a particular policy responsibility in the region. </p>
<p>The demonstrations and vigils include:</p>
<p>* New York: 3pm, Times Square. Assemble at 47th Street and 7th Avenue. There will be a JVP banner.</p>
<p>* San Francisco: 12 noon. Israeli Consulate (456 Montgomery Street) and march to Union Square, Memorial Day.</p>
<p>* Washington DC: 3pm, assembling at the Israeli Embassy, 3514 International Drive NW and moving to the White House at 5pm.</p>
<p>* Seattle: 1pm. 5th Avenue and Broad Street, Seattle Center.</p>
<p>* Miami: 5pm-7pm, at Torch of Friendship (Downtown).</p>
<p>* Boston: 4pm, Park Street Station.</p>
<p>Additional protests are being publicised here: <a href="http://gazafreedommarch.org/cms/en/flotilla/protest.aspx" title="http://gazafreedommarch.org/cms/en/flotilla/protest.aspx">http://gazafreedommarch.org/cms/en/flotilla/protest.aspx</a></p>
<p>Jewish Voice for Peace (<a href="http://www.jvp.org" title="www.jvp.org">www.jvp.org</a>) is dedicated to achieving a lasting peace that recognises the aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians for security and self-determination.</p>
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Peace and NonviolencePeople and PowerNews BriefgazaIsraeli-Palestinian conflictjewish voice for peaceWorld NewsMon, 31 May 2010 21:20:47 +0000staff writers12282 at http://www.ekklesia.co.uk